FRESNO, Calif. –
After the conclusion of the Western Athletic Conference Soccer Tournament
Sunday, two University of Idaho players, Amber Pimley and Christine Leathem,
were recognized on the WAC All-Tournament Team.

“It’s great when you get recognized in that quality of a
tournament, and it’s nice that it’s players who don’t always get recognized, purely
because of their positions,” Idaho head coach Pete Showler said of the honors.

Pimley is a central midfielder from Camarillo, Calif.
(Adolfo Camarillo HS). While primarily a defensive-minded mid, the junior erupted
for a pair of scores to lead Idaho’s come-from-behind 2-1 victory over San Jose
State in the quarterfinal round. Pimley earned her first career game-winner and
first career multi-goal game in the process.

Leathem is a junior center back from Surrey, B.C., Canada
(Sullivan Heights Secondary). She led the Idaho back line through a pair of
gritty matches and stood out in the middle of the defense. Leathem and the Vandal
defense held strong against a hard-charging SJSU offense in the final 60
minutes to preserve the team’s first WAC Tournament win, then stifled a potent
Utah State offense for a majority of play in the semifinal.

“Amber coming through with two goals was just phenomenal,
and Christine has just been so consistent, and she’s played from the back,
stepped in and started the offense many a time,” Showler said. “It’s justly
rewarded. I’m glad that it’s seen at this level and this stage, and it’s
nothing they didn’t fully deserve.”

Pimley and Leathem helped the team to an 8-11-3 overall
record and 3-3-1 WAC tally, which gave the team its second-consecutive WAC
Tournament bid. Thursday’s quarterfinal win was the first conference tournament
win in program history. The duo also becomes the first WAC All-Tournament honorees
in program history.

Utah State, which claimed the tournament title with a 1-0
win over second-seeded Fresno State on Sunday, put four players on the All-Tournament
Team, including MVP Molli Merrill. The Bulldogs added three honorees, while
Idaho and New Mexico State had two selections apiece.